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Temptation vs. Testing

James 1:12-18

I. God DOES NOT Tempt Us to Sin (v. 13)

a. TESTING/TRIALS differ from TEMPTATION

i. TESTING is used by God to build us up (v. 12)

ii. TEMPTATION attempts to break us down (v. 14-15)

b. Examples of testing

i. Job

ii. Paul

c. Examples of temptation

i. David (I Sam. 11:1-4)

ii. Eve (Gen. 3:1-6)

II. Temptation comes from within OUR OWN FLESH (v. 14)

a. Temptation comes from fleshly DESIRES

b. Which leads to SIN

c. Sin leads to DEATH

i. SPIRITUAL death

ii. PHYSICAL death

III. Temptation can be OVERCOME (v. 16-18)

a. You must learn to RECOGNIZE temptation

b. Learn to look for the WAY OUT (I Cor. 10:13)

c. We must lean on God for STRENGTH (v. 17-18)

i. He has given us His HOLY SPIRIT

ii. He has given us His WORD